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TheGötaland theory (orWestrogothian School,SwedishVästgötaskolan) is a view which challenges established history and archaeology, and claims that the foundation ofSweden occurred not (as traditionally assumed) inEastern Sweden, but in the province ofVästergötland (Westrogothia). The adherents of this idea use wide-ranging methods, from controversial ones, such asdowsing and askingmediums to contact the dead, to more conventional methods such asetymology, but also claim that the established academic material consists of lies and forgeries. Although well known in Sweden and fervently preached by its adherents, it has never been accepted by scholars.[1]
The Götaland theory originated in the early 20th century with claims that the ancient cityUbsola (Uppsala) was situated in the province ofVästergötland, specifically in the old lands calledUplanden. Additionally, the theory's supporters also held the view that Västergötland and the region of LakeVänern was in fact the land of "Sithun", translated into modern day language asSigtuna, whereOdin and hisAesir companions supposedly settled when they came toScandinavia.
An early predecessor of the theory was Pehr Tham (1737–1820), who during the 19th century unsuccessfully tried to promote ideas such as the village Sätuna being the location ofOld Sigtuna, and the ancient town ofBirka being situated somewhere aroundLake Hornborga. He is regarded as a successor ofOlof Rudbeckius, a seventeenth-century scholar who claimed that Sweden was the true location of the sunkenAtlantis.
The early proponents of the Götaland theory proposed ideas about Västergötland, and the Vänern lake region, in particular, being the origin not only of theGeats, but also of theSuiones, theDanes; and furthermore the location of various phenomena inNorse mythology, such asOdin'sSithun (Sigtuna),Valhall, and the ash treeYggdrasil. These ideas, created in the spirit ofRomanticism, were also a reaction to the archaeological research at the time, which arguably neglected some areas of Sweden that were nevertheless rich in archaeological remains. The speculations of the adherents of the Götaland theory movement are largely irrelevant to modern academic discussion, which does not pay much attention toSwedish-Geatish wars or theYngling kings.[2]
Especially, the story of Odin and the Aesir's emigration according to theYnglinga saga is generally considered as false by the official views and scholars. Other parts of the extensive work of Snorri Sturluson (and other saga writers) may however be considered valid references for finding elements of the ancient history of Scandinavian people and their religious customs and beliefs.
The townBirka is also known from theVita Ansgari, in whichAnsgar founds amission in the town. It is commonly referred to being onBjörkö island in the lakeMälaren. This location is aWorld Heritage Site and a popular tourist attraction.
According to the Västgöta theory,Birka as a name meant "merchant town," and could refer to any such town in ancient Sweden.[citation needed]
Upsalir, orUbsola, was the main cult center ofpagan (heathen) Ása-faith in ancient Scandinavia and Sweden. The ancient Upsalir was described byAdam of Bremen in the 11th century, and bySnorri Sturluson in the 13th century. It is generally considered to correspond to modern-dayUppsala, with its location on Uppsala's old location –Old Uppsala, in east Sweden, the habitat of the ancient tribe calledSuiones (Swedes). The Västgöta school however claims that the original site for thetemple was located in West Sweden, in the habitat of the ancientGeats (Götar), the tribe which came to nameVästergötland.
There are however no archeological findings that support the view of Västergötland being the original site of Ubsola, and therefore the views of the Västgöta theory have little or no actual credibility.[citation needed]
The Götaland theory was the only notable result of the Nazi infiltration of Swedish archaeology during 1933–1945.[3] Carl-Otto Fast, founder of the Westrogothian School ("Västgötaskolan"), was a known Nazi[4] who some claim collaborated withSS Ahnenerbe,Richard Walther Darré and eugenicists fromHadamar in Germany. Archaeologist Magnus Alkarp, who has studied classified and semi-classified documents from thepost-war era, has shown that the Westrogothian School was, among some regional, right-wing separatists movements in Scandinavia, an important part of theOperation Gladio.[citation needed]
Amateurs have unsuccessfully tried to prove what they consider important aspects of the Götaland theory several times. The barrow atSkalunda was claimed to be the burial site of the heroBeowulf known from theBeowulf epic; after applying thedowsing technique with a pendulum, they claimed that the barrow was indeed the burial site of thisGeatish hero.[5] Later, professional archaeologists drilled into the barrow to extract a sample forC14 dating.[5] The barrow was from around 700 C.E., about 150 years too late for being a candidate for Beowulf's burial site.[5]
The locality Sätuna at theLake Hornborga in Västergötland was, according to believers in the theory, the trueSigtuna, where kingOlof Skötkonung had his coins made.[6] A protrusion in the ground was pointed out by adherents of the Götaland theory as the king'smint.[6] However, when archaeologists examined it, the protrusion turned out to be the remains of an uncompleted barn from the 1890s.[6]
